Skip to main content

View Post [edit]

Poster: Pig Street ! Date: Apr 22, 2023 9:21pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: RIP Joani Walker

" A little note to the world but especially my taper friends. Many of you know her or know of her. She was one of the taper Supremes. Last afternoon we lost our dear friend Joani Walker. Joani was one of the original tapers and pioneered a number of methods. Her tapes are wide spread and have brought enjoyment to many. In the ‘80’s she contracted M.S. and was severely impaired soon to be completely immobilized. I had the honor of her friendship over the years. She is missed by her close friends including all my family members. Joani has gone to the great taper section and her immense talent and boundless love for music will be appreciated. Goodbye our beloved friend enjoy safe travels. Your microphones will always be in phase and your batteries will never run out.

Best to you, Maestro Healy "

Hats off to all the tapers!


There were recordings being made by different folks for different purposes in the 80's and 90's. The PCM's were the "vault" recordings, but other recordings were made for members of the crew, family, and the various hangers-on.

Joani Walker was a taper in the late 70's and early 80's (23 Nov 1978; 16 Dec 1978; 17 Dec 1978 are among three of her great recordings) who befriended Dan Healy. She eventually became the overseer of taping duties at the board, she sat with a table full of recorders and made tapes for crew and family, primarily cassettes. Her SBD cassette recordings have circulated for years in tape form, and now digital. She has shared many recordings with Charlie Miller who has transferred, mastered, and circulated many fine recordings that Joani made over the years.

Healy's matrix recordings were done on PCM gear (so he could get the timing right), and have that hall ambience combined with the SBD clarity.

Reply [edit]

Poster: Finster! Date: Apr 28, 2023 3:23am
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: RIP Joani Walker

Thanks for sharing this sad news. I know the name, but not the person behind it. Thanks to this fine lady for all of her efforts documenting and preserving all of this great music.
Rest In Peace.

Listening to this today in her honor...

https://archive.org/details/gd1978-11-23.fob.sonyECM250.walker.scotton.miller.96031.sbeok.flac16/gd78-11-23d1t02.flac

Reply [edit]

Poster: high flow Date: Apr 23, 2023 9:56pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: RIP Joani Walker

Yeah. Just read this elsewhere. Sad news.

Tape-on, tape-on, taper.

Reply [edit]

Poster: BNRToast Date: Apr 24, 2023 4:15am
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: RIP Joani Walker

Over at OTR we have some pages which note the priceless work of tapers, the source of so much of our materials. Perhaps someone at GD world can put such a thing together for your heroes.

So HF, you visited Holland?

Reply [edit]

Poster: high flow Date: Apr 24, 2023 9:45am
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: RIP Joani Walker

It's been a long time since I visited Holland. 1997, I believe. For nearly 30 years my business has been travel in Europe and I have made about 10 trips.

Reply [edit]

Poster: Nomed70 Date: Apr 24, 2023 4:07pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: Holland

It was a little past my time but I think Toasty meant The Trader.

Reply [edit]

Poster: billydlions Date: Apr 27, 2023 3:06am
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: RIP Joani Walker

I’m in Holland today. It’s Kings Day which is like Mardi Gras and July 4th combined. All the Dutch in orange getting crazy. I hope I can get some zzzs tonight.